Dog breeds come in all shapes and sizes with a range of different behaviors and personalities. How do you choose the right dog breed for your family? When choosing a family dog, you may need to consider how they get along with children, other animals and how they fit your lifestyle. Some dogs fit better in city living, while others need room to run and play. Let's take a look at five dog breeds that are known to make great family pets.

1. Labrador Retriever

Labradors have long been extremely popular in the United States due to their versatile and cheerful personalities. Labs tend to get along easily with people, children, and other animals. They are eager to please, which makes them relatively easy to train. Labs are medium-sized dogs with males weighing between 65 and 80 pounds and females weighing between 55 and 70 pounds. This makes them a good choice for a house in the suburbs or in rural areas. Labs are very active and love to play fetch and do other things with their owners. Labs do require weekly brushing as they regularly shed their coat.

2. Corgi

Even though they're on the small side, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very spirited and lively. They were originally working dogs, so they definitely need something to do. If you're looking for Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies for sale, you'll want to look for dogs that are attentive and intelligent. These dogs enjoy and respond well to obedience training. They are fine with family pets but may be territorial with unfamiliar animals.

3. Beagle

Beagles are medium-small dogs that belong in the hound group. Their personality can be characterized as cheerful, friendly and curious. This is a very active dog that loves to run and play and follow scents.Beagles do need a lot of exercise, and they shouldn't be let off the leash outside your property as they can follow a scent and take off. Beagles are good with other dogs and children, which makes them an ideal family pet. They respond well to training and have high intelligence. Beagles typically weigh around 20 to 30 pounds, which makes them ok for smaller spaces as long as they get plenty of exercise. Beagles require weekly grooming and their shedding is seasonal. They tend to be very vocal dogs and like to bark at anything.

4. Newfoundland

If you have a large property or house, then you might consider the large and lovable Newfoundland. These dogs are good with kids and other animals as they are very patient and sweet. They're easy to train with good intelligence and only bark when necessary. They do need some room to romp, but they also like to laze around. Shedding is seasonal, and they should be brushed up weekly to keep their long coat from being tangled.

5. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is intelligent, active, friendly and cheerful. They typically play well with children and other dogs. They are very eager to please, which makes training easy. This is a very active dog that loves to play games and get daily exercise. Golden Retrievers are considered medium-sized dogs as males weigh up to 75 pounds and females weigh up to 65 pounds. Due to their size and activity level, they are more suited for a house with some property versus cramped city living. Shedding is seasonal, and they do need occasional, but not excessive, grooming. Golden Retrievers bark at unfamiliar people or animals that might be intruding, but they are not known for prolonged and excitable barking.

Whether you're looking for a small, medium or large family dog, there are plenty of options to choose from.

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